Antichrist
| Directed by: | Lars Von Trier |
|---|---|
| Written by: | Lars Von Trier and Anders Thomas Jensen |
| Cast: | Willem Defoe, Charlotte Gainsbourg |
| Studio: | IFC Films |
| Genre: | Horror |
| Official Site: | www.antichristthemovie.com |
There is only one way to describe this movie. FUCKED UP
Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourgh pull of very chilling performances, their characters known only as "he" and "she." They start the movie off as very normal couple. Grieving and emotionally distraught, but normal, human nonetheless. Gainsbourg seems to be dealing the worst, and Dafoe takes responsibility for it. As time goes on, they both seem to move into the darkness, becoming more and more crazy, yet rationalizing themselves in such a way, that makes it incredibly more horrifying than a person who is simply out of control, especially Gainsbourgh, who's bipolar character is the most confusing character to get a read on.
The movie itself is split into 4 chapters including a prologue and epilogue. The first being the prologue where while having sex, the couple do not notice their son near by climbing to look out the window, but accidentally falling to his doom. The next 4 chapters, basically the plot of the movie, follows these two lovers into the woods in order to face their fears. The woods and cabin turn out to be a depressing place working more as an excelerant than a deterrant for their emotional instability.
Visually, there is no movie that compares. If anyone has ever referred to a movie as arthouse, than they have not seen this. They all pale in comparison. The simplest vision or sound bring about feelings of doom and gloom. This movie dares to be disturbing and unforgettable showing the much, MUCH darker side of humanity.
She is studying gynocide, the murder of woman, for a thesis, and during her emotional instability has convinced herself that she, like all the other female victims in her project, deserves to die. She blames herself for the death of their son, for good reason I must say, and drives he to the brinking point.
What does this movie actually mean though? I don't know. To fathom a guess would only ruin the experience for yourself. One of the movies in a long time that has a truly think-for-yourself ending. For a slow movie, it is surprisingly engaging, but I don't see most people making it through this movie. The entertainment value is incredibly low. This isn't a painting you put in a coffee table book, you hang it in a museum and tell every critic that it is in fact art no matter how much they deny.
